Murton joins brother as home run champ

WAREHAM — Luke Murton got a little shaky even before he started swinging in yesterday's Cape Cod Baseball League home run hitting contest.

MATT GELB

WAREHAM — Luke Murton got a little shaky even before he started swinging in yesterday's Cape Cod Baseball League home run hitting contest.

"They announced me as the brother of a former champion," Murton said. "It was like, don't put any pressure on me or anything."

But Wareham's Murton didn't disappoint in front of the home crowd, defeating defending champion Mitch Moreland in the finals, 8-7.

Murton completes the first-ever brother tandem to win the contest.

His older brother, Matt — now with the Chicago Cubs — won it in 2002.

Luke, a first baseman from Georgia Tech, hit a total of 22 home runs. After hitting his eighth in the finals to clinch victory, the home fans cheered for him to keep hitting. He hit four more homers to appease the crowd.

The most impressive were three bombs hit over the left field bleachers at Clem Spillane Park. Murton hit 10 home runs in the first round with Wareham manager Cooper Farris pitching.

Moreland and Orleans' Dennis Raben (Miami) each hit nine homers in the first round, and Moreland advanced on a five-out swing-off to face Murton in the finals.

Murton said he talked to his brother earlier in the week for advice.

"(Matt) said, 'Go out there and win it.,'" he said. "It was great. It was my first home run derby ever, so it was fun."